Image 1 | Architecture of the new Stacked CMOS image sensor – Image: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation 
Bild: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation 
Image 2 | Cross-section photo of CMOS image sensor with 2-Layer Transistor Pixel technology. – Image: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
The new architecture approximately doubles saturation signal level relative to conventional image sensors, widens dynamic range and reduces noise. The technology’s pixel structure will enable pixels to maintain or improve their existing properties at not only current but also smaller pixel sizes. A stacked CMOS image sensor adopts a stacked structure consisting of a pixel chip made up of back-illuminated pixels stacked atop a logic chip where signal processing circuits are formed. Within the pixel chip, photodiodes for converting light to electrical signals, and pixel transistors for controlling the signals are situated alongside each other on the same layer. Increasing saturation signal level within form-factor constraints plays an important role in realizing high image quality with wide dynamic range. Sony’s new architecture uses its proprietary stacking technology, and packaged the photodiodes and pixel transistors on separate substrates stacked one atop the other. In conventional stacked CMOS image sensors, by contrast, the photodiodes and pixel transistors sit alongside each other on the same substrate. The new stacking technology enables adoption of architectures that allow the photodiode and pixel transistor layers to each be optimized, thereby approximately doubling saturation signal level relative to conventional image sensors and, in turn, widening dynamic range.Additionally, because pixel transistors other than transfer gates (TRG), including reset transistors (RST), select transistors (SEL) and amp transistors (AMP), occupy a photodiode-free layer, the amp transistors can be increased in size. By increasing amp transistor size, Sony succeeded in substantially reducing the noise to which nighttime and other dark-location images are prone. The widened dynamic range and noise reduction available from this new technology will prevent underexposure and overexposure in settings with a combination of bright and dim illumination (e.g., backlit settings) and enable high-quality, low-noise images even in low-light settings.
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